Chautauqua 2008 to Celebrate the Civil Rights Movement
The College of Southern Maryland will welcome Rosa Parks, George Wallace, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the Maryland Humanities Council annual Chautauqua program. This year's theme is “Civil Rights: Taking a Stand,” in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of King's assassination.
Chautauqua brings scholar/actors and the local community together in a tent under the evening skies to experience moments of American history and to talk about the characters and ideas of the times being portrayed. A revival of the popular and influential arts and humanities movement in upstate New York and established in Maryland in 1891, Chautauqua has been an annual celebration at CSM since 2000.
Providing history in an entertaining format, the free program includes opening musical acts at 7 p.m., followed at 7:30 p.m. by a Chautauquan actor portraying the evening's historical figure. A question-and-answer session concludes the evening.
Chautauqua 2008 will be held the week of July 7-10 on the HT Lawn of the La Plata Campus. Martin Luther King Jr. will be featured July 7, followed by George Wallace on July 8, Rosa Parks on July 9, and Malcolm X on July 10.
In keeping with the theme for this year's Chautauqua, CSM is partnering with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-Calvert County Branch, African American Heritage Society of Charles County, the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions and the Southern Maryland Studies Center at CSM. These organizations will be on campus during Chautauqua providing historical information, photos, displays and documentation about the lives of African-Americans in Southern Maryland.
Chautauqua attendees may bring a picnic basket or purchase a hot meal on campus. In the event of inclement weather, Chautauqua performances will be moved into the Fine Arts Center. Decisions will be made by 2 p.m. each day and posted online at www.csmd.edu, and on the college hotline, 301-369-1999 or 1-800-650-4023.
In addition to Chautauqua CSM will also offer its Twilight Performance Series, the weeks July 15, 22 and 29. The family-friendly, free series will feature artists performing a variety of music from jazz, rhythm and blues, to folk music at each of the campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick. Performances will be held on Tuesdays at the Leonardtown Campus, on Wednesdays at the La Plata Campus and on Thursdays at the Prince Frederick Campus.
This year's Twilight Performance Series is sponsored in part by Comcast, Arts Council of Calvert County, Charles County Arts Alliance, CSM Foundation, Raley, Watts & O'Neill, Computer Sciences Corporation, M&T Bank, Bayside Toyota, Community Bank of Tri-County, Charles County Economic Development, W.M. Davis, St. Mary's Hospital, McDonald and Eudy Printers as well as by several grants. The series is made possible in part by a grant from the St. Mary's County Arts Council, awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council. This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by the Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency: and the Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
For information on Chautauqua call 301-934-7861 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7861 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861 for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6169, Ext. 7861 for Calvert County or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.
Calendar Listing
Chautauqua 2008: “Civil Rights: Taking a Stand.” 7-9 p.m., July 7. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, Md. Meet Martin Luther King Jr. as one of the historical figures featured during this year's Chautauqua, hosted under the big tent at CSM. Musical entertainment provided by The New Community Church of God In Christ Gospel Choir, followed by the evening's historical performance. The African-American Heritage Society of Charles County will also be present with a historical display representing the lives of African-Americans in Charles County. All ages welcome; bring a picnic basket and blanket or purchase food on campus. Chautauqua is sponsored by Maryland Humanities Council and CSM. Free. 301-934-7861 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7861 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7861for Calvert County or www.csmd.edu/finearts.
Chautauqua 2008: “Civil Rights: Taking a Stand.” 7-9 p.m., July 8. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, Md. Meet George Wallace as one of the historical figures featured during this year's Chautauqua, hosted under the big tent at CSM. Musical entertainment provided by David and Ginger Hildebrand, singing music of the 1960s, followed by the evening's historical performance. The Southern Maryland Studies Center will also be present with a historical display representing the lives of African-Americans in Southern Maryland. All ages welcome; bring a picnic basket and blanket or purchase food on campus. Chautauqua is sponsored by Maryland Humanities Council and CSM. Free. 301-934-7861 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7861 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7861for Calvert County or www.csmd.edu/finearts.
Chautauqua 2008: “Civil Rights: Taking a Stand.” 7-9 p.m., July 9. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, Md. Meet Rosa Parks as one of the historical figures featured during this year's Chautauqua, hosted under the big tent at CSM. Musical entertainment provided by The New Community Church of God In Christ Gospel Choir, followed by the evening's historical performance. The Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions will also be present with a historical display representing the lives of African-Americans in St. Mary's County. All ages welcome; bring a picnic basket and blanket or purchase food on campus. Chautauqua is sponsored by Maryland Humanities Council and CSM. Free. 301-934-7861 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7861 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7861for Calvert County or www.csmd.edu/finearts.
Chautauqua 2008: “Civil Rights: Taking a Stand.” 7-9 p.m., July 10. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, Md. Meet Malcolm X., as one of the historical figures featured during this year's Chautauqua, hosted under the big tent at CSM. Musical entertainment provided by Eric Scott, followed by the evening's historical performance. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Calvert County Branch will also be present with a historical display representing the lives of African-Americans in Calvert County. All ages welcome; bring a picnic basket and blanket or purchase food on campus. Chautauqua is sponsored by Maryland Humanities Council and CSM. Free. 301-934-7861 or 301-870-2309, Ext. 7861 for Charles County; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7861for Calvert County or www.csmd.edu/finearts.